President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to inaugurate the upgraded West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State, on Wednesday. The terminal, operated by APM Terminals, is recognized as Nigeria’s largest and most efficient container terminal, outside Lagos.
The $115 million (approximately N178.2 billion) upgrade project at WACT, which began in 2021, represents a major milestone in Nigerian port infrastructure. Jeethu Jose, Managing Director of WACT, highlighted the significance of the project, stating,
“We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the upgrade of our terminal at Onne Port. This will be a game-changer for Nigeria, and we’re thoroughly excited about it. The fresh investment of USD115 million is a further testament to the trust and confidence that APM Terminals has in the Nigerian economy and contributes to our purpose of improving lives for all while lifting global trade.”
WACT holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first greenfield container terminal developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Located within the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne, Rivers State, the terminal serves as a key gateway for markets beyond Lagos, playing a critical role in the economy of Eastern Nigeria.
On August 15, 2020, WACT set a new benchmark in Nigerian port history by accommodating the Maersk Stadelhorn, the largest container vessel ever to berth at any Nigerian port. The vessel, with an overall length of 300 meters and a beam of 48.2 meters, has the capacity to carry approximately 10,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) of containers.
The commissioning ceremony is expected to be attended by a host of dignitaries, including state governors, ministers, and heads of various government agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA). Representatives from shipping companies, freight forwarding associations, as well as importers and exporters, are also expected to be in attendance.
